“You’ve got time,” he says, “but not too much. You’re booked in for nine.”
Booked in?I want to ask him what that means, but theweight of the other witches’ stares stops me. It’s none of their business.
My instinct is to hunch my shoulders and scurry off under their scrutiny. Instead, I think of my mother—the woman I believe she truly was—and straighten to my full height, lifting my chin.
Let them stare. Let them whisper.
I’m a Hallowind, and I’m exactly where I need to be.
I march into the bathroom without looking back, and the door closes behind me.
“Where are we going?” I jog to keep up with Wylder’s long strides half an hour later. I follow him through a maze of hallways, our footsteps echoing against polished stone floors. The academy seems impossibly vast from the inside, spaces expanding and contracting in ways that defy physics.
“The Summoning Hall,” he says without looking back.
Wow, don’t overshare or anything.
The hot water drumming against my skin may have washed away my sleepless night, but it did nothing to relieve the gnawing anxiety. I’m in a strange, pocketed fold of magical reality where everyone hates me and giant bird beasts want to rip me up with their talons the moment I step out of line.
At least I’ll look good when it all comes crashing down around me.
As I hurry behind him, the deep sapphire blue tunic swishes against my upper thighs, my black leggings and lace-up, knee-high boots crushing the whole dominatrix witch vibe this place has going on.
The red dye has finally rinsed out, and my blonde hair is pulled back into a sleek ponytail, a few strands left loose at my temples to catch the breeze and soften my face. “Is the Summoning Hall where affinity stuff happens.”
“Not stuff. Testing.”
My knees threaten to give out, and my stride falters. “Testing? Is that a good idea? The last time you people poked at me, your torture broke a layer of the bonding, and I lost control.”
He stops, a muscle jumping in his jaw as he grits his teeth. “I’ve told you before, we weren’t torturing you. It only felt like that because you don’t have any control.”
“Well, my question stands. Is this a good idea?”
He hesitates. “It’ll be fine. Arcana can handle massive fluctuations of magic and instability. It’s why we’re here.”
My lungs feel heavy as I try to pull in a full breath. Yeah, well, I hope he’s right because I don’t think I’ll make it back to my stone circle in time if they trigger another event.
We arrive at massive double doors carved with intricate symbols that seem to shift when I look directly at them. Wylder pushes them open, revealing a circular chamber with a domed ceiling thirty feet above. It mimics the night sky, complete with twinkling constellations.
Four students already occupy chairs arranged in a half-circle. Their gazes find me instantly, curious and calculating. Aside from the students, there are a few others here, either to watch or assist. I’m not sure which.
I roll my eyes and fight not to groan as Amber turns from where she’s chatting with another senior volunteer. The two are standing near a desk talking to a tall man with rust-colored hair. Another witch, a woman with sharp features and eyes like coal, stands beside them.
Amber notices our arrival and stiffens, whispering something to her companions before shooting me a look that could curdle milk.
“Is this what it’s going to be like the whole time? Is she going to follow me around like some Elite leering section?”
“No, it’s not.” Wylder’s tone is even deeper than normal. “I’ll handle it.”
The words are no sooner out of his mouth than she’s sashaying over, giving him a once-over with a smoky, seductive gaze.
Wylder doesn’t seem all that receptive to her come-hither routine. He gets big points in my book for that.
“Amber, Fallon,” Wylder acknowledges stiffly, “I didn’t expect to see you two here.”
Amber flashes him a saccharine-sweet smile. “I needed to speak with you about the council meeting. But I can see you’re busy with your... project.”
Fallon smirks. “So this is Zoe’s daughter?” She studies me as if I’m a specimen under glass. “I’m underwhelmed.”
